The Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, has called Newcastle’s audacious
loan bid for Andy Carroll “ridiculous” and warned that only a straight cash
deal will take the England striker back to the North East.

Rodgers insists Carroll, 23, will join the Liverpool squad on their American tour next week, but also confirmed the club had made inquiries for Fulham’s Clint Dempsey and are interested in Swansea’s Joe Allen – although both deals are complicated.

Rodgers, who has also advised his star striker, Luis Suárez, to “move on” from last season’s race row with Patrice Evra, has given short shrift to the suggestion Newcastle can take their former striker back on a temporary basis.

Rodgers said: “The club invested £35 million in the player and there has been a lot written and spoken over the last couple of weeks. For me, it’s simple. The player is still part of this group and the only way we would think about him going out is the same as any other player.

"If there was an offer to take him on a permanent deal, we’d have to look at it, but that’s no different to any player. The thought of him going on loan for one year is ridiculous, really.

“It is that part of the year where there is a game going on with agents and other people, but the reality is he will join us here in Boston next week. He is a talented player and we will review what happens from there.

“I’ve spoken to Andy – I made the time to speak to all the players either verbally or through texts – so the communication is there.

"I specifically spoke to him and was straight with him. I’m looking forward to him coming back and we will take it from there.”

While Carroll’s future needs to be resolved, Liverpool’s moves for new recruits have been prone to a faux pas. The New England Sports Network website – the media company that owns Liverpool – wrongly announced that Fulham’s Clint Dempsey had signed on Wednesday and was forced to acknowledge the error.

Liverpool’s media staff have no control over the NESN output, but it undoubtedly caused embarrassment and will not help further talks with Fulham. Rodgers, however, did confirm he has made an approach to sign the 29 year-old.

“We made a couple of inquiries to Fulham for him. He is a talented player, but there has been nothing more than that, even though I’d heard he was joining the squad today – that was interesting,” said Rodgers. “That’s about it on that.”

Rodgers has also confirmed his interest in Swansea midfielder Allen.

“I have a great relationship with Swansea, but if there is a market for any of the players I would like to be in that market,” he said.

“They respect that. He is a very talented player, which everyone knows, but there is nothing more at the moment. When players come to a club such as Liverpool, it’s never straightforward.

"There are always other barriers and difficulties. At this moment, there are ongoing negotiations on a few targets.

“We hope we’re close to some deals. I need to evaluate the players we have and assess the squad and bring some in to bring freshness to the group.

"As a manager you want them in sooner rather than later, but the main thing is to get them in before the beginning of the season. If we do that, our job will be done.”

Rodgers is still working with a shadow Liverpool squad while the bulk of the Euro 2012 squad and Olympic representatives are still away.

After Suárez revived the issue of his eight match ban on Uruguay television, Rodgers said he was eager for the striker to put that incident behind him.

“I was only party to all that from the outside looking in,” said Rodgers. “It was an unfortunate episode and it had its ramifications, but that is it and I’m not one to regurgitate it all and bring it up.

"I can’t put words into players’ mouths, but I can certainly give advice and my advice has already been ‘lets move forward’ so lets concentrate on that.

“Liverpool, historically, does its talking on the pitch and that’s what we’ll look to do.”